Sam Goldwyn’s final production for RKO Radio release, is also the producer’s last vehicle of Danny Kaye, his major star.
The Moss Hart-Myles Connolly fictional screenplay for Hans Christian Andersen disregards the facts about the great storyteller, opting for a fanciful, typically 1950s blend of comedy, fantasy, romance and music.
As played by Kaye, Hans Christian Andersen starts out as a small-town cobbler whose gift for spinning fairy tales keeps the kids from attending school. Asked to leave town, Hans heads to Copenhagen to seek his fortune as writer. After having his heart broken by the beautiful ballerina Doro (Jeanmaire), Hans finds solace and happiness in the knowledge that children all over the world are reading and enjoying his enchanting fantasy fables.
Frank Loesser’s score includes such tunes as “No Two People,” “The King’s New Clothes,” “Wonderful Copenhagen,” “Inchworm,” “The Ugly Duckling,” “Thumbelina” (which was nominated for an Oscar), and the title song.
“Hans Christian Andersen” was a smash box-office hit, occupying the sixth position among the year’s top-grossing films.
The industry responded with six Oscar nominations, though no awards (see below).
Oscar Nominations: 5
Cinematography (Color): Harry Stradling
Art Direction-Set Decoration (Color): Richard Day and Clave; Howard Bristol
Costume Design (Color): Clave, Mary Wills, Madame Karinska
Song: Thumbelina, music and lyrics by Frank Loesser
Sound Recording:
Scoring of Musical: Walter Scharf
Oscar Awards: None
Oscar Context:
Cast
Danny Kaye as Hans Christian Andersen
Farley Granger as Niels
Zizi Jeanmaire as Doro
Philip Tonge as Otto
Erik Bruhn as The Hussar
Roland Petit as the Prince
Credits:
Running time: 112 Minutes.
Directed by Charles Vidor
Screenplay: Moss Hart, Myles Connolly
Released: November 25, 1952.
